Photos / Sounds

Observer

ahuereca

Date

March 2024

Description

cf.

on Lecanora saligna

Photos / Sounds

What

Chicita's Sea Storm Lichen (Cetrelia chicitae)

Observer

eontlichens

Date

March 2024

Description

No C test performed. Large psuedocyphellae. Presumed ID

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Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

December 20, 2017

Description

K+ yellow, PD+ orange

Photos / Sounds

What

False Sunken Disk Lichen (Megaspora verrucosa)

Observer

eontlichens

Date

March 2024

Description

Originally found by C Lewis

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What

Pepper-Spore Lichens (Genus Rinodina)

Observer

eontlichens

Date

March 2024

Photos / Sounds

Observer

lamawebber

Date

July 20, 2005 04:08 PM PDT

Description

Species identified: Hobaniella longicrucris P.A.Sims & D.M.Williams, 2018 (previous name is O. longicrucris) (a monospecific genus)

Genus: Hobaniella P.A.Sims & D.M.Williams, 2018

Taxonomic notes on the genera: Hobaniella

Phylum: Bacillariophyta
Class: Bacillariophyta classisincertae sedis
Order: Bacillariophyta ordoincertae sedis
Family: Bacillariophyta familiaincertae sedis
Genus: Hobaniella (Guiry and Guiry 2024)

Type species, synonym(s), etc.: Holotype species: Hobaniella longicrucris (Greville) P.A.Sims & D.M.Williams

Genus summary:

Similar-looking diatoms of the Eupodiscaceae (e.g. Hobanellia, Odontella, Trieres, Zygoceros) and Biddulphiaceae (e.g. Biddulphia) can be approximately divided, morphologically and genetically, into two broad classifications: 1) ocellate and pseudocellate diatoms, respectively. The ocellus-bearing taxa (Eupodiscaceae) are monophyletic, and thus the ocellus is a useful morphological character in establishing the order Eupodiscaceae. However, the Biddulphiaceae are polyphyletic and dispersed across various lineages of multipolar non-pennate diatoms with a taxonomically confused history (Hoban 1983, Round et al. 1990, Ashworth et al. 2013). Previously, Biddulphioid diatoms included most of the Odontella species (Cupp 1943, Shim 1976, Tynni, R. 1986, Waters et al. 1992), including the taxa found in the Salish Sea; there still exists confusion regarding the naming of these two genera, partly because of the morphological variability of species such as O. aurita (Cupp 1943: 616-163). However, in the last twenty years, with molecular and SEM investigations, the taxonomy of ocelli- and pseudocelli-bearing diatoms and the taxonomy of Hobanellia and Odontella have become less ambiguous (Lavigne et al. 2015; Sims et al. 2018; Ashworth et al. 2013; Guiry and Guiry 2024).

Species:

Hobaniella longicrucris P.A.Sims & D.M.Williams, 2018 (basionym: Biddulphia longicruris Greville 1859: 163, pl. VIII [8]: fig. 10; previous name is O. longicrucris)
Description:
Valves broad elliptical-lanceolate. Length of apical axis 15–110μ. The valve face is convex with a prominent domed valve centre positioned between vertical long, narrow elevations with ocellus on each tip. Valve mantle steep, and at the base merging into an expanded hyaline valve margin. External rimoportulae tubular processes 1-3, situated at the apex of the domed valve center, usually long and slender, with rounded fork-like ends and slightly inflated at the base. Valve areolae radiating from a small hyaline central area, forming concentric ellipses on each half of the valve, in nearly parallel rows near base of valve mantle. Areolae on valve 12–17 in 10μ. Areolae occluded by a simple velum. Girdle zone with straight sides, with fine, parallel, vertical rows of pores 18–21 in 10μ. Girdle bands sometimes present, finely poroid 15–18 in 10μ, in vertical rows. Chloroplasts small, numerous, near the wall. Nucleus central. Cells joined into chains by ends of ocellus on valve elevations (Greville 1859: 163; Cupp 1943; Hasle and Syvertsen 1996; Sims et al. 2018. Guiry and Guiry 2024)

Salish Sea specimens: Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-I-1036-2-July 20-2005_4.tif; Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-I-1039-2-400x Dialux-July 20-2005_3.tif; Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-I-s4700-July 14-2005_m007_3.tif; Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-I-s4700-July 14-2005_m010_4.tif; Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-Nov 10-2010_0014_4 copy.tif; Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-Nov 10-2010_0003_4b.tif; Hobaniella longicrucris-SHW-I-s4700-July 14-2005_m004_4.tif.
Morphological data:
Valves broad elliptical-lanceolate. Length of apical axis 29.6-49.1 μm. The valve face is convex with a prominent domed valve centre positioned between vertical long, narrow elevations with ocellus on each tip. Valve mantle steep, and at the base merging into an expanded hyaline valve margin. External rimoportulae tubular processes 2, situated at the hyaline apex of the domed valve center, long and slender, with swollen fork-like tips and slightly inflated at the base. Valve areolae radiating from a small hyaline central area, forming concentric ellipses on each half of the valve, in nearly parallel rows near base of valve mantle. Areolae on valve 12 in 10μ. Girdle zone with straight sides, with fine, parallel, vertical rows of poroids 36 in 10μ. Girdle bands sometimes present, finely poroid, in vertical rows. Chloroplasts small, numerous, near the wall. Cells joined into chains by ends of ocellus on valve elevations.

Odontella_longicruris-SHW-2022, #161 RBCL 283, etc.: (100% 3e and 1e expect values, excellent distance tree results).

Odontella is cosmopolitan in the marine littoral, planktonic, epiphytic and benthic habitats. Odontella aurita (McIntire and Overton 1971, Tynni 1986, Sancetta and Calvert 1988); Hobaniella longicruris (Waters et al. 1992, Pienitz et al. 2003) and O. obtusa (Rao and Levin 1976, Shim 1976) are commonly found species within the Salish Sea and along the west coast of North America (Cupp 1943). These three species are frequently found in the plankton at Spanish Hills Wharf (SHW), Trincomali Channel, Galiano Isl. and occasionally in amongst epiphytes in the marine eelgrass Zostera marina at Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park (MHMPP), Galiano Isl., BC, Canada.

From a plankton tow at Spanish Hills Wharf (SHW), Trincomali Channel, Galiano Island, BC, Canada, on July 14, 20, 2005. Live imaging with a Leitz Dialux and Nikon CoolPix 4500 camera. SEM imaging with a Hitachi s4700 at the BioImaging Facility, University of British Columbia. Thank Elaine Humphrey for SEM support.

References:

Ashworth, M. P., Nakov, T., & Theriot, E. C. (2013). Revisiting Ross and Sims (1971): toward a molecular phylogeny of the Biddulphiaceae and Eupodiscaceae (Bacillariophyceae). Journal of Phycology, 49(6), 1207–1222. https://doi.org/10.1111/JPY.12131

Guiry, M.D. in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 09 October, 2021.

Hasle, G.R. & Syvertsen, E.E. (1996). Marine diatoms. In: Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. (Tomas, C.R. Eds), pp. 5-385. San Diego: Academic Press.

Hoban, M.A. (1983). Biddulphioid diatoms II: The morphology and systematics of the Pseudocellate species, Biddulphia biddulphiana (Smith) Boyer, B. alternans (Bailey) Van Heurck, and Trigonium arcticum (Brightwell) Cleve. Botanica Marina, 26(6): 271-284

Hoppenrath, M., Elbrachter, M., Drebes, G. (2009) Marine Phytoplankton, Selected microphytoplankton species from the North Sea around Helgoland and Sylt. E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbunchhandlung, Stuttgart, Germany.

Lavigne, A.S., Sunesen, I. & Sar, E.A. (2015). Morphological, taxonomic and nomenclatural analysis of species of Odontella, Trieres and Zygoceros (Triceratiaceae, Bacillariophyta) from Anegada Bay (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina). Diatom Research 30(4): 307-331.

Pienitz, R., Fedje, D. and Poulin, M. (2003) Marine and Non-Marine Diatoms from the Haida Gwaii Archipelago and Surrounding Coasts, Northeastern Pacific, Canada In Bibliotheca Diatomologica (H. Lange-Bertalot and P. Kociolek, eds.), Band 48, J. Cramer, Stuttgart, 146 pp.

McIntire, C. D. and Overton, W. S. (1971). Distributional Patterns in Assemblages of Attached Diatoms from Yaquina Estuary, Oregon. Ecology, Vol. 52, No. 5. pp. 758-777.

Rao, V.N.R. and Levin, J. 1976. Benthic marine diatom flora of False Bay, San Juan Island, Washington. Syesis, 9:173–213.

Round, F.E., Crawford, R.M. and Mann, D.G. (1990), The Diatoms, Biology & Morphology of the Genera, pp. 220-221. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Sancetta, C. and Calvert, S. E. (1988). The annual cycle of sedimentation in Saanich inlet, British Columbia: implications for the interpretation of diatom fossil assemblages. Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers, 35(1), 71–90. doi:10.1016/0198-0149(88)90058-1

Shim, J. H. (1976). Distribution and Taxonomy of Planktonic Marine Diatoms in the Strait of Georgia, B.C. Phd. Thesis, UBC.

Sims, P.A. (ed.) (1996). An atlas of British diatoms arranged by B. Hartley based on illustrations by H.G. Barber and J.R. Carter. pp. 406-409, Bristol: Biopress Ltd.

Sims, P. A., Williams, D. and Ashworth, M. P. (2018). Examination of type specimens for the genera Odontella and Zygoceros (Bacillariophyceae) with evidence for the new family Odontellaceae and a description of three new genera. Phytotaxa 382(1):1. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.382.1.1

Spaulding, S.A., Bishop, I.W., Edlund, M.B., Lee, S., Furey, P., Jovanovska, E. and Potapova, M. Diatoms of North America. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from https://diatoms.org

Tynni, R. (1986). Observations of diatoms on the coast of the State of Washington. Geological Survey of Finland. Report of Investigation 75

Waters, R. E., Brown, L.N., and MG Robinson, M.G. (1992). Phytoplankton of Esquimalt Lagoon, British Columbia: comparison with west Vancouver Island coastal and offshore waters. Canadian Technical Report of Hydrography Ocean Sciences 137.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

peptolab

Date

March 22, 2024 12:02 PM EDT

Description

Trachelius ovum EHRENBERG, 1831 EHRENBERG, 1838 from the acidic freshwater kettle pond Chatfield's Hole. Imaged in Nomarski DIC on Olympus BH2S using SPlanapo 20 0.75 and Splanapo 40 0.95 objectives plus variable phone camera cropping on Samsung Galaxy S9+. The cells measure 240 um in length. The following discussions and several figures are adapted from Foissner et al (1995) (1).

According to EHRENBERG (1838), FOISSNER & FOISSNER (1988b) and KAHL (1931a), Trachelius ovum has several safe synonyms, which do not appear in the saprobiological literature: T. cicer SCHRANK- this older synonym was never used and should therefore be suppressed forever for reasons of stability, T. vorax EHRENBERG, Amphileptus rotundus MASKELL, Trachelius Leidyi FOULKE. The exact organization of this common ciliate was previously insufficiently known, although it was reported several times and has been processed using modern methods (DRAGESCO & DRAGESCO-KERNEIS 1986, FRYD VERSAVEL et al. 1975, SONG & WILBERT 1989). The representations are too schematized and incorrect in detail. We have therefore reworked T. ovum for the “Atlas”. This showed that the somatic and oral ciliation is very similar to that of Dileptus. Nevertheless, Trachelius is clearly demarcated from Dileptus namely by the ventro-lateral fossa, where the ciliation is slightly modified and the club-shaped mouth funnel, which consists of a thick layer of the finest fibrils.

Congener comparison: Trachelius subtilis PENARD, which has not yet been sufficiently confirmed, has only 12 contractile vacuoles and no suction cup. Dileptus species usually have a clearly pointed rear end and are always much slimmer. Paradileptus elephantinus lives predominantly in the pelagic of stagnant waters and has a rosary-shaped (moniliform) macronucleus. The characteristics are particularly important for identification are 2, 3, 4 .

Differential diagnosis
1) Size in vivo 200-600 x 75-350 um, usually 250-350 um long.
2) Shape sac-shaped to almost spherical, starving specimens clearly flattened on one side. Proboscis often only about 1/4-, rarely up to 1/2-length, usually curved dorsally. In well fed specimens it becomes a short, stalk-shaped extension. Ventro-laterally a small, difficult to recognize pit that serves as a suction cup.
3) Macronucleus dumbbell-shaped, often disintegrates into a few spherical parts in postconjugates. Several micronuclei.
4) Many small contractile vacuoles scattered throughout the cell. Plasma very strongly vacuolated, the strands form a coarse network.
5) Short, rod-shaped extrusomes in the proboscis along the ridge of the mouth. Cortex thick, with many ellipsoid granules.
6) About 80-120 longitudinal rows of cilia, some of which extend into the ventro-lateral fossa, where there are several specializations, which are explained in the figure legends. Brush 3-4 rows, on the dorsal side of the trunk, a row extending almost to the end of the body; only clearly visible after silver impregnation and in the scanning electron microscope.
7) Mouth entrance at the base of the proboscis, surrounded by many very delicate bars that form a club-shaped, thick-walled funnel. To the right of the circumoral row of eyelashes there is a longitudinal row of cilia, on the left there are many short oblique rows of perioral cilia; more precise structure of the oral cilia can only be recognized after silver impregnation.

  1. FOISSNER W., BERGER H., BLATTERER H. & KOHMANN F. (1995): Taxonomische und ökologische Revision der Ciliaten des Saprobiensystems – Band IV: Gymnostomatea, Loxodes, Suctoria. – Informationsberichte des Bayer. Landesamtes für Wasserwirtschaft, 1: pp. 208-18

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cooperj

Date

April 3, 2017

Photos / Sounds

Observer

cooperj

Date

September 9, 2001

Description

scale=20um

Photos / Sounds

Observer

connorquinn

Date

November 10, 2021 12:03 PM EST

Description

Conidium stained with lactophenol/cotton blue. Retrieved from foam sample.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

peptolab

Date

March 20, 2024 01:00 PM EDT

Description

Remanella granulosa (Kahl, 1933) Foissner, 1996 from the intertidal benthos of a small estaurine beach near the boat basin at Moneybogue Bay in Westhampton Beach on the south shore of Long Island. It is imaged in Nomarski DIC using Olympus BH2S under SPlanapo 40 0.95 and SPlanapo 20 0.75 objectives plus variable phone cropping on Samsung Galaxy S9+. The cells range from 180 up to 400 um in length, contain an average of 12 up to 14 Müller vesicles in varying stages of development with 5 Müller vesicles in a row at the head end, and three macronuclei with a single micronucleus. These features point to a diagnosis of R. granulosa, which is the only species of this size listed in the review of Xu et al (2012) (1) to have three macronuclei. Their population had individuals possessing up to 14 Müller vesicles which I also found fairly consistently in my population with the more posterior Müller vesicles being less developed. Ma et al (2022) (2) described a new species, Remanella elongata, with similar size and also having similar range of Müller vesicles (7-13) and from 2 to 3 macronuclei, but this species has a prominent longitudinal glabrous stripe lacking in my population of R. granulosa.

Improved diagnosis by Xu et al (2015) "Cell size in vivo about 150–400 × 25–45 µm; ratio of buccal field/body length about 1/4–1/5; 19–23 right lateral ciliary rows; right buccal, left outer buccal and intrabuccal kineties composed of 140–189, 35–70 and 64–78 dikinetids respectively; two or three macronuclei and a single micronucleus; cortical granules brown in colour, present on both sides of body and densely packed in buccal area and around pharyngeal tube" (1).

"Body slender and flexible, mostly about 300 × 40 µm in vivo, with buccal field occupying c. 1/4–1/5 of body length. Cilia about 8 µm long. Cells usually appear dark brownish at low magnification due to brown cortical granules which are round, c.0.5µm in diameter, and densely packed in buccal area, around pharyngeal tube, and on both sides of cell. On right side of cell granules seem to be arranged in lines along ciliary rows. Usually eight or nine Müller vesicles located near dorsal margin, each c.8µm in diameter and with a globular or ellipsoidal mineral granule c. 4µm across. Some individuals possessing up to 14 Müller vesicles. Cytoplasmic spicules about 10–12 µm long, scattered throughout cell. Two or three macronuclei with a single micronucleus located between them. Locomotion by gliding between sand grains or along bottom of Petri dish" (1).

"Remanella granulosa was first described by Kahl (1933) as follows: ‘body size 150–300µm; cortical granules brown, packed in buccal area. Considering these characters and the general appearance of the figure given by Kahl (1933), the Chinese population corresponds well to the original report. The main difference between these two populations is the number of Müller vesicles (5 according to the original illustration vs.about 8 or 9 in the Chinese population).Based on our observations, however, the number of Müller vesicles is somewhat variable in this species. Therefore we believe the two populations are conspecific. The Chinese population also matches that described by Dragesco (1960) from general appearance. The ultrastructure of the nuclear apparatus and endoplasm of R. granulosa were reported by Raikov(1994) and Raikov& Kovaleva( 1990)" (1).

  1. Diversity of the karyorelictid ciliates: Remanella (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Karyorelictida) inhabiting intertidal areas of Qingdao, China, with descriptions of three species. XU ANXU,MIAO MIAO,ALAN WARREN & WEIBO SONG. Systematics and Biodiversity (2012), 10(2): 207–219
  2. Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of four Remanella species (Protozoa, Ciliophora): A flagship genus of karyorelictean ciliates, with descriptions of two new species. Ming-Zhen Ma, Yu-Jie Liu, Yuan Xu, Bo-Rong Lu, Yu-Qing Li, Saleh A. AL-Farraj, Giulio Petroni, Wei-Bo Song, Ying Yan. Zool. Res. 2022, 43(5): 827−842

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

October 4, 2013

Description

Perithecia with furrowed neck. Spores muriform, 2/ascus, 49-58 x 20-23 um.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mallomonas

Date

November 6, 2023 09:49 PM GMT

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mallomonas

Date

March 6, 2024 08:43 PM +07

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mallomonas

Date

March 5, 2024 05:39 PM +07

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

March 17, 2024 09:23 AM CDT

Description

Gathered dry leaves on 2024-02-23 and stored in water.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

March 17, 2024 09:41 AM CDT

Description

Gathered dry leaves on 2024-02-23 and stored in water.

Photos / Sounds

Date

June 25, 2023 05:33 PM +05

Description

Video: https://youtu.be/G4yMvNvUhdw
Sampling location: A water sample was collected from the bank of the Ufa River within the boundaries of Nyazepetrovsk town.
Date and time of collection: 18 Jun 2023 at 6 PM
Date and time of observation: 25 Jun 2023 at 5 PM
The sample was stored at room temperature in a plastic container.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

March 15, 2024 02:53 PM CDT

Description

Gathered dry leaves on 2024-02-23 and stored in water.
Two daughters emerging from a division cyst:

  1. Initial observation of cyst with another individual
  2. 2 minutes later
  3. 18 minutes later
  4. 77 minutes later
  5. 84 minutes later
  6. 140 minutes later
  7. 153 minutes later
  8. 154 minutes later 1st daughter emerges
  9. 155 minutes later
  10. 162 minutes later
  11. 163 minutes later 2nd daughter emerges
  12. 2nd daughter swims away

Video: https://youtu.be/vntikKDmSDE

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

March 2024

Description

Spores 2-celled, hyaline.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

lamawebber

Date

June 25, 2022 11:22 AM PDT

Description

Species identified:

Shionodiscus poro-irregulatus (Hasle & Heimdal 1970) Alverson, (Kang et Theriot (2006)

Genus:
Taxonomic classification:

Phylum: Heterokontophyta
Subphylum: Bacillariophytina
Class: Medioiophyceae
Subclass: Thalassiosirophycidae
Order: Thalassiosirales
Family: Thalassiosirosiraceae
Genus: Shionodiscus (Guiry and Guiry 2024)

Type species: Shionodiscus oestrupii (Ostenfeld) A.J.Alverson, S.-H.Kang & E.C.Theriot 2006: 258 (Guiry and Guiry 2024)

Genus Summary:

A small marine genus similar in appearance to Thalassiosira Cleve. However, it differs from the later genus by the labiate process always being some distance from the margin, normally on the valve face, occasionally near the edge of the face. The strutted processes are typically long inward extensions and always the outward extensions are reduced or absent (Hasle and Syvertsen
1996; Alverson et al. 2006; Wilks and Armand 2017).

Species:

Shionodiscus poro-irregulatus (Hasle & Heimdal 1970)
Alverson, (Kang et Theriot (2006)
Thalassiosira proro-irregulata Hasle & Heimdal 1970
(Hasle & Heimdal, 1970, p. 573-574, Fig. 55-64, 71, 72.)
Description:
Girdle view: Diameter 21-30 µm. Valves flat, slightly depressed at the center, with slightly rounded edges. Cells close together in chains. Distances between cells about one-fifth of the pervalvar axis and less than one-fourth of the diameter. Chloroplasts numerous. Valve view: Valve areolae is 10 - 15 in 10 µm. Hexagonal areolae, approximately same size throughout the valve. Inner sieve membrane of areolae has numerous small pores close together. 1-8 central trifultate strutted processes, independent of cell size, irregularly scattered in the valve centre. Marginal processes, internally long, not extending on exterior of the frustule, 4-6 in 10 µm. Marginal processes situated vertically on a high and steep mantle. Labiate process located mid-way between margin and center. Labiate process is notably anvil shaped. Labiate process is 5-6 areolae from central process. (Hasle and Heimdal 1970; Hasle and Syvertsen, 1996; Kang et Theriot 2006; Guiry and Guiry 2024)

Salish Sea specimens: Shionodiscus poro-irregulatus Gen Plank (THAL)-Box 19 June 25-2022-TM4000_nitric-Aug 14-2022_ Stb Site 1b_60(x3k)4.tif; Shionodiscus poro-irregulatus-Gen Plank-Porlier-(THAL)-Box 19 June 25-2022-TM4000_nitric-Aug 14-2022 Stb Site 1b_57(x1.8k)_4.tif.
Morphometric data:
Girdle view: Diameter 21.9-37.5 µm. Valves flat, slightly depressed at the center, with slightly rounded edges. Valve view: Valve areolae is 8-12 in 10 µm. Hexagonal areolae, approximately same size throughout the valve. 2-5 central trifultate strutted processes irregularly scattered in the valve centre. Marginal processes, internally long or short, but not extending on exterior of the frustule, 4-5 in 10 µm. Marginal processes situated vertically on a high and steep mantle. Marginal processes are 1.8-2.4 µm apart. Labiate process located 50-60% towards centre of valve. Labiate process is notably anvil shaped. Labiate process is 5-6 areolae from central process.

This is a first report of Shionodiscus poro-irregulatus in the Salish Sea and Pacific Western Canada.

From a general 60 µm mesh plankton tow at Porlier Pass, Galiano Island, BC, Canada, on June 25, 2022. After 4% formalin (final concentration) fixation, cells were cleaned with concentrated nitric acid on 12 mm glass coverslips and rinsed in distilled water deionized water. Mounted with double sided taper to 13 mm aluminum SEM stubs. Thank you to Andrew Simon of IMERSS for collecting the sample. SEM imaging with a Hitachi TM4000 at the Advanced Microscope Facility, UVIC. Thank you Hitachi HiTech and Elaine Humphrey for SEM support. Images by Arjan an Asselt, Melanie Quenneville and Mark Webber. Specimen preparation, imaging and taxonomy by Mark Webber (imerss.org).

References:

Alverson, A.J., Kang, S.-H. & Theriot, E.C. (2006). Cell wall morphology and systematic importance of Thalassiosira ritscheri (Hustedt) Hasle, with a description of Shionodiscus gen. nov. Diatom Research 21(2): 215-262.

Fryxell, G. A., & Hasle, G. R. 1979. The genus Thalassiosira: T. trifulta sp. nova and other species with tricolumnar supports on strutted processes. Beiheft zur Nova Hedwigia 64:13-32.

Fryxell, G. A., & Hasle, G. R. (1980). The marine diatom Thalassiosira oestrupii" Structure, taxonomy and distribution. American Journal of Botany 67:804-814.

Hasle, G.R. & Syvertsen, E.E. (1996). Marine Diatoms. In: Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. (Tomas, C.R. Eds). San Diego: Academic Press.

Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2007, AlgaeBase version 4.2. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, http://algaebase.org, searched March 15, 2024.

Li, Y. and Lu, S. (2013). The genus Thalassiosira off the Guangdong coast, South China Sea. Botanica Marina; 56(1): 83–110. DOI: 10.1515/bot-2011-0045

Wilks, J. V. and Armand, L. K. (2017): Diversity and taxonomic identification of Shionodiscus spp. in the Australian sector of the Subantarctic Zone, Diatom Research, DOI: 10.1080/0269249X.2017.1365015

Photos / Sounds

What

Pixie Cup and Reindeer Lichens (Genus Cladonia)

Observer

eontlichens

Date

February 2024

Photos / Sounds

What

Can-of-worms Lichen (Stictis urceolata)

Observer

eontlichens

Date

February 2024

Photos / Sounds

What

Branch Bumps (Pertusaria pustulata)

Observer

mossgeek

Date

March 2, 2024 01:27 PM PST

Description

First occurance in southern California since 1885. J-Dar also found one in Santa Barbara area.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

lamawebber

Date

January 14, 2024 10:41 PM PST

Description

Species Identified:

Hemiaulus sinensis (chinensis) Greville 1865

Genus: Hemiaulus Heiberg, 1863, nom. cons. (Guiry and Guiry, 2020)

Heiberg, P.A.C. (1863). Conspectus criticus diatomacearum danicarum. Kritisk oversigt over de danske Diatomeer. pp. 1-135, 6 pls. Kjøbenhavn: Wilhelm Priors Forlag.

Taxonomic notes on the genus Hemiaulus:

Phylum: Bacillariophyta
Subphylum: Bacillariophytina
Class: Mediophyceae
Subclass: Chaetocerotophycidae
Order: Hemiaulales
Family: Hemiaulaceae
Genus: Hemiaulus (Guiry and Guiry, 2024)

Type species, synonyms, etc.: Hemiaulus proteus Heiberg 1963: 47; pl. I, fig. I

Genus Summary:

Hemiaulus is a cosmopolitan marine planktonic genus found frequently in the fossil record. United by short or long processes, forming straight or curved chains, and occasionally rotated about the long axis. Cells are lightly silicified. Valves are elliptical and have two long thin processes ending in apical spines with claw like tips. The tips are often flattened with pointed ends that link adjacent cells without pseudocelli or swollen ends as found in Eucampia. The valve face is curved and merges gradually into the deep mantles. The areolae are simple round pores (H. hauckii) or large elliptical to rectangular holes closed by complex cribra. The single rimoportula is often present in a central or offset position or occasionally absent. Girdle bands (copulae) split with pointed ends and finer areolate than on the valves. Plastids discoid and small
(Cupp 1943, Ross, Sims and Hasle, 1977; Ross and Sims, 1985; Round et al. 1990;. Hasle and Syvertsen 1996).

Species Identified:

Hemiaulus sinensis (chinensis) Greville 1865: 5, pl. V [5]: fig. 9
Description:
In valve view the cells are broadly elliptical in outlines with a slightly convex surface. The apical axis is 15–36 μm long. Chains are straight or curved. Pervalvar axis generally elongated. The valve mantle is high. The two external processes on the valves are moderately thin, somewhat truncated but robust, with strong claws-like structures on the ends. Compared with H. hauckii, the frustule is more siliceous. The areolae are round in a radial pattern and on the mantle surface the rows are in a distinctive eccentric arrangement; the center of the areolation does not coincide with the center of the valve but lies on one of the mantle surfaces. Areolae in the center of the valve 7–9 in 10 μm, on the base of the mantle 11–13 in 10μm. Very fine punctation present on the bands (copulae) 28–29 striae in 10μm (Greville, 1865: 5; Pl. 5, fig. 9; Cupp 1943; Hasle and Syvertsen 1996; Al-Kandari 2009).

Morphometric description of Trincomali Channel specimen: Hemiaulus sinensis-isolate-SHW-Jan 14-2024 (Feb 7-2024) antibiotic_AE31_0002_2.tif; Hemiaulus cf. sinensis-SHW-Culture - Feb 29-2024-E800_100x oil_AvA_0051_4 copy.jpg.
Morphometric data:
In valve view the cells are broadly elliptical to rectangular in outline with a slightly convex surface. Apical axis is 26 μm long. Chains are curved. Pervalvar axis generally elongated. The valve mantle is high. The two external processes on the valves are moderately thin, somewhat truncated but robust, with strong claws-like structures on the ends. Areolae on the base of the mantle 14 in 10μm

Reported by Shim (1976) in the Strait of Georgia, Salish Sea.

Methods:

General plankton sample with a 20 µm net at Spanish Hills Wharf, Trincomali Channel, Galiano Island, Gulf Islands, BC, Canada, January 14, 2024. Single isolate grown in f/2 media with LED lights and images of the original colony islolated. Dead cells mounted in sterile marine water between a coverslip and slide and imaged with a Nikon E800, 100x DIC NA 1.40 oil lens and an MU2003MP camera. Collecting, imaging, isolating and cloning by Arjan van Asselt. Taxonomy by Mark Webber.

References:

Al-Kandari, M., Al-Yamani, F.Y. and Al-Rifaie, K. (2009). Marine Phytoplankton Atlas of Kuwait’s Waters. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait City, 351 p.

Cupp, E. E. (1943). Marine Plankton Diatoms of the West Coast of North America. Bull. Scrips. Inst. Oceanography. 5: 1-238.

Greville, R.K. (1865). Descriptions of new genera and species of Diatoms from Hongkong. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 3, 16(91).

M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. August 25, 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on Feb. 8, 2024.

Hasle, G.R. & Syvertsen, E.E. (1996). Marine diatoms. In: Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. (Tomas, C.R. Eds. San Diego: Academic Press.

Hendey, N.I. (1964). An introductory account of the smaller algae of British coastal waters. Part V: Bacillariophyceae (diatoms). pp. [i]-xxii, 1-317. London: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fishery Investigations. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

Mather, L., MacIntosh, K., Kaczmarska, I., Klein, G. & Martin, J.L. (2010). A checklist of diatom species reported (and presumed native) from Canadian coastal waters. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2881: 1-78.

Ross, R., Sims, P. A., & Hasle, G. R. 1977. Observations on some species of the Hemiauloideae.
Beiheft zur Nova Hedwigia 54:179-213.

Ross, R. & Sims, P.A. (1985). Some genera of the Biddulphiaceae (diatoms) with interlocking linking spines. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Botany Series, 13(3): 227-381, 33 pls.

Round, F.E., Crawford, R.M. & Mann, D.G. (1990), The Diatoms, Biology & Morphology of the Genera, pp. 580-581. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Shim, J. H. (1976). Distribution and Taxonomy of Planktonic Marine Diatoms in the Strait of Georgia, B.C. Phd. Thesis, UBC.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mhincz

Date

March 2024

Place

Ohio, US (Google, OSM)

Description

Found in freshwater sample, as a colony attached to a copepod.

Photos / Sounds

What

Neobisiid Pseudoscorpions (Family Neobisiidae)

Date

November 26, 2023 07:52 AM MSK

Description

Video: https://youtu.be/1Q8kDGQLsMs
The pseudoscorpion was discovered on a windowsill adjacent to a container of forest soil, vegetation, and springtails. Therefore, it is unclear whether the pseudoscorpion was an inhabitant of the apartment or brought in from the forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Orange Atoms (Squamulea subsoluta)

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

June 10, 2013

Photos / Sounds

Observer

peptolab

Date

March 5, 2024 05:27 PM EST

Description

Paraspathidium fuscum (Kahl, 1928) Fjeld, 1955 from the superficial intertidal benthos of a small beach near the boat basin at Moneybogue Bay in Westhampton Beach on the south shore of Long Island. It is imaged in Nomarski DIC using Olympus BH2S under SPlanapo 40 0.95 objective plus variable phone cropping on Samsung Galaxy S9+. The specimen conforms in all respects to the redescription of the species by Foissner in 1997 (1). The cell measures 320 um in length. This is larger than its more recently described congener Paraspathidium apofuscum. " Hitherto, Paraspahidium was a monotypic genus, the only species being P. fuscum (Kahl, 1928) Fjeld, 1955, which was redescribed by Foissner (1997b). Our new species differs clearly from P. fuscum in the following combination of characters: (1) fewer somatic kineties (34–43 vs. 50–60); (2) the absence of conspicuous dorsal brush (vs. the presence of conspicuous, highly differentiated dorsal brush; see Figures 2L, 8D, 8E); (3) perioral kinety open (vs. closed in P. fuscum) (Figures 8D, 8E); (4) contractile vacuole without detectable collecting canals (vs. with several collecting canals extending to mid-body in P. fuscum) (Foissner 1997b)" (1). Besides the larger size, I was able to demonstrate the delicate collecting canals feeding the contractile vacuole which are lacking in P. apofuscum, which I have also observed in a different estuary see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173423235. I was careful to exclude that these delicate canals were instead somatic ciliary rows. They were irregularly spaced and the cortex of P. fuscum shows a peculiar cross-hatched pattern which was not in focus when visualizing the canals.

From Foissner 1997 (1) "Size, length:width ratio, and shape highly variable, as also indicated by literature data (200--500 um, 8-13:1. Cultured Roscoff specimens in vivo about 220-350 x 40-60 um, length:width ratio 4:1-9:1, on average 6.5:1 (n: 11). In vivo very flexible and about 30% contractile, especially in anterior half, as also observed by Kahl (1928) and Biernacka (1963); however later Kahl (1930) stated that P. fuscum can contract up to 2/3 of its length. -this is not unlikely because feeding specimens strongly contract becoming urceolate. Shape likewise fairly variable, usually, however, cylindrical or slightly bursiform and highly reminiscent of slender spathidiids (cp. Kahl, 1930)l anterior mouth-bearing portion more or less distinctly widened and obliquely truncate, posterior end narrowly rounded, laterally slightly flattened. Nuclear apparatus on average slightly underneath mid-body, invariably consisting of two ellipsoidal (about 2: l) macronuclear nodules with a single micronucleus in between. Contractile vacuole in posterior end, associated with many fine and anastomosing collecting canals extending to at least mid-body; very likely, these canals were interpreted as satellite vacuoles by Dragesco (1960, 1963).

Extrusomes in vivo about 10 x 0.5 um; concentrated around pharyngeal basket and scattered throughout cytoplasm, consist of fusiform posterior half, which stains with protargrol, and filiform anterior portion having minute globule on top. This particular shape of the extrusomes, highly reminiscent of exploded torxicysts, was seen in l0 specimens: and thus very likely represents the resting state. Cortex about 2 um thick, stands out as bright fringe from darkly granulated cytoplasm, distinctly punctate by deep ciliary pits, very flexible and gelatinous, contains innumerable tiny granules in small bolsters between ciliary rows, cortical qranules irregularly shaped 0.1 - 2 um across, stain blue with methyl green-pyronin but are not extruded when dye is added. Cytoplasm conspicuously dark at X 100 due to countless. highlv refractive inclusions; mouth region, macronuclear nodules, contractile vacuole, and food vacuoles stand out as bright blisters; inclusions colourless, ellipsoidal to roughly globular, some possibly hollowed, 3-6 x 2 - 4 um size. Cells slowly gliding on bottom of culture dishes or swimming by rotation about main body axis, usually, however burrowing in and under mats of sulphur bacteria ingesting small ciliates, mainly Euplotes, which break in pieces when touching mouth opening.

Somatic cilia 8-10 um long, very regularly arranged in bipolar and transverse rows, originate from deep corlical pits producing curious, cross-hatched cortical pattern as already noted by Kahl (1928) and Noland (1937). Cilia single (monokinetids), excerpt at anterior end of kineties, where 5-10 narrowly spaced, ciliated dikinetids occur producing conspicuous perioral ciliary corona. Anterior dikinetids associated not only with the usual set of fibers (short, anteriorly directed kinertodesmata and very short transverse microtubule ribbon), but also with long nematodesma supporting cytopharyngeal basket; oralized somatic kineties. Dorsal brush highly complex, difficult to study because short and in deep cleft at dorsal anterior end of cell, consists of two or three rows of transversely oriented dikinctids bearing up to 2-5 um long curiouslv vase-shaped cilia; left row with monokinetidal tail extending above mid-body and bearing 15-20 um long cilia having filiform process. Long, vase.-shaped brush cilia accompanied by about 5 um long, rod-shaped cilia. Oral apparatus in widened anterior end of cell. Oral opening apical, elliptical, excavated (i.e. not closed), surrounded by inconspicuous oral dome. Circumoral kinety at base of oral dome, made of dikinetids having, like dorsal brush, about 15 um long, vase-shaped cilia. Inner wall of oral dome striated by fine fibres forming inconspicuous, campanulate cytopharyngeal basket.

Occurence and. ecology,:There are about 50 records of P. fuscum in the literature, including Mexico and South America, indicating that it has a world-wide distribution. Some details on the ecology of P fuscum have been reported, rnainly by Fenchel (1969) :and Hartwig (1973b). Fenchel (1969) found a low tolerance to hydrogen sulfide (< 0.1 g/l) and up to 30 individuals / sq cm in thc Helsingor Beach (Denmark). Hartwig (1973b), working at Sylt (Germany), observed that P. fuscum preferred the lentic zones and migrated from the 0-5 cm top sediment layer to the 5-10 cm layer during the cold season. 10-100 individuals./100 ml sediment were common throughout the year, with peaks of up to 1500 cells in September. Petzold (1956) observed P. fuscum in brackish water (5.4o/oo) at Hiddensee, a small island at the north coast of Germany. This agrees with data from Biernacka (1963), who observed T fuscum at To/oo and 9.-5-14'C at the Polish coast. Thus, P, fuscum is a euryhyaline halobiont.

Paraspathidim fuscum feeds on algal debris, euglenoid flagellates, and ciliates (Kahl, 1928, 1930; present data). More detailed observations were performed by Fenchel (1968). According to this author, P fuscum is a histophage which is quickly attracted to small metazoans torn to pieces with needles. The vacuole contents of 33 individuals from Nivä Bay, the Helsingor Beach, and Asko Harbor were investigated. In most cases they contained material of animal origin, in one case a bristle of the oligochaete Paranais littoralis. Often the vacuoles also contained material of vegetable origin, mostly dinoflagellates, rarely diatoms, and in some cases the vacuoles contained remains of ciliates.

"The genus Paraspathidium has a haptorid like shape and suite of morphological characters (dorsal brush, extrusomes, a slit-like, apically located cytostome, dikinetids around buccal field). It has been regarded as a gymnostome haptorid (Litostomatea) by Foissner (1).
Nonetheless, recent SSU rRNA gene phylogenies and analysis of the secondary structures of the variable
region 2 (V2) and variable region 4 (V4) of this molecule support a relationship with class Plagiopylea rather than with class Litostomatea. This has not been tested with other phylogenetic markers" (3).

  1. Foissner W. 1997b. Infraciliature and systematic position of the marine interstitial ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) Lopezoterenia torpens (Kahl, 1931) nov. gen., nov. comb., Discot richa papillifera Tuffrau, 1954, and Paraspathidium fuscum (Kahl, 1928) Fjeld, 1955. Rev Soc Mex Hist Nat. 47:41–63.
  2. Three marine haptorid ciliates from northern China: Paraspathidium apofuscum n. sp., Trachelotractus entzi (Kahl, 1927) Foissner, 1997 and Apotrachelotractus variabialis Long, Song and Warren, 2009 (Protozoa, Ciliophora). Hongan Long, Weibo Song, Khaled A. Al-Rasheid and Jun Gong. Journal of Natural History Vol. 43, Nos. 29–32, August 2009, 1749–1761
  3. Insights into the phylogeny of
    systematically controversial haptorian ciliates (Ciliophora, Litostomatea) based on multigene analyses. Qianqian Zhang, Alastair Simpson and Weibo Song. Proc. R. Soc. B (2012) 279, 2625–2635

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Observer

pluvierdodu

Date

March 5, 2024 10:18 AM EST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ikhom

Date

March 5, 2024 12:27 PM EST

Description

On Betula log tiny bright orange cup fungi.

Photos / Sounds

What

Speckled Blister Lichen (Viridothelium virens)

Observer

eontlichens

Date

March 2024

Photos / Sounds

What

Speckled Blister Lichen (Viridothelium virens)

Observer

janie_c

Date

July 2022

Photos / Sounds

Observer

pierrelfr

Date

March 31, 2021 12:18 PM EDT

Description

Collected on March 30, 2021. Length 100µ. Last photo is a gif.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

lamawebber

Date

July 15, 2022 07:16 PM PDT

Description

Actinoptychus senarius (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg 1843

Class: Coscinodiscophyceae, Order: Coscinodiscophycales, Family: Heliopeltaceae, Genus: Actinoptychus. Synonym = Actinoptychus undulates (Guiry and Guiry 2020).

Images of a live Actinoptychus senarius specimen (51.7 µm diameter) at different focal planes from the Strait of Georgia, site B, East side of north Galiano Island, Southern Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada. Collected on July 15, 2022 with a 20 µm plankton net.

A coastal marine diatom, mostly benthic, likely cosmopolitan and solitary (sometimes in chains). Cells seen here are discoid. The valves of Actinoptychus spp. are divided into alternatively raised and depressed sectors, some as many as 20. Actinoptychus senarius has six sectors of the same size, each sector is coarsely areolated. The center of the valve area is hexagonal and smooth (hyaline) and without areolae or portulae. Rimoportulae (labiate processes) are found at the margin of each of the three raised sectors. The internal openings of the rimoportulae are curved like horseshoes. Internally, the pore like areolae are: 18 in 10 µm in the raised sectors and 14 in 10 µm in the depressed sectors. The valve mantle has spines. Chloroplasts are numerous and plate-like. (Lee and Chang 1996, Hasle et al. 1997, Horner, 2002, Hoppenrath et al. 2009).

A. senarius has been reported in West Coast marine waters by Cupp (1943), Rao et al. (1976), Shim (1976), Tynni (1986) and Pienitz et al. (2003), but not by Waters et al. 1992.

Methods:

From a general 20 µm plankton net sample on July 15, 2022, Actinoptychus senarius cells were isolated by micropipette into a 0.2 µm filtered drop of coastal marine water surrounded by a thin circle of Vaseline. A coverslip was placed over the sample and gently pressed down to allow for a close working distance lens (60x apo, oil, NA 1.40). Imaged with a Nikon E800 by M. Webber. Sample collection, preparation, imaging and identification by M. Webber. Many thanks to Kevin Fraser for taking MW out in sampling expeditions with is boat.

References:

Al-Yamani, F.Y. & Suburova, M.A. (2019). Marine phytoplankton of Kuwait's waters Volume II. Diatoms. pp. [1]-336, 161 pls. Kuwait: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.

Cupp, E. E. (1943). Marine Plankton Diatoms of the West Coast of North America. Bull. Scrips. Inst. Oceanography. 5: 1-238. p. 56. Fig. 20.

Hasle, G.R. & Syvertsen, E.E. (1997). Marine Diatoms. In: Identifying Marine Phytoplankton. (Tomas, C.R. Eds), pp. 34-36. Plate 1, page 32. San Diego: Academic Press.

Hoppenrath, M., Elbrachter, M., Drebes, G. (2009) Marine Phytoplankton, Selected microphytoplankton species from the North Sea around Helgoland and Sylt. pp. 45-46, figs. 18g-m. E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbunchhandlung, Stuttgart, Germany.

Horner, R. A. (2002), A Taxonomic Guide to Some Common Marine Phytoplankton. p. 52. Biopress Ltd., Bristol.

M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 14 May 2020.

Phyto'pedia - The Phytoplankton Encyclopaedia Project, UBC Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. Accessed May 16, 2020.:
https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/research/phytoplankton/diatoms/centric/actinoptychus/a_senarius.html

Pienitz, R., Fedje, D. and Poulin, M. (2003) Marine and Non-Marine Diatoms from the Haida Gwaii Archipelago and Surrounding Coasts, Northeastern Pacific, Canada In Bibliotheca Diatomologica (H. Lange-Bertalot and P. Kociolek, eds.), Band 48, J. Cramer, Stuttgart, 146 pp.

Rao, V.N.R. and Levin, J. (1976). Benthic marine diatom flora of False Bay, San Juan Island, Washington. Syesis, 9:173–213.

Shim, J. H. (1976). Distribution and Taxonomy of Planktonic Marine Diatoms in the Strait of Georgia, B.C. Phd. Thesis, UBC.

Tynni, R. (1986). Observations of diatoms on the coast of the state of Washington. Geological Survey of Finland, Report of Investigation 75.

Waters, RE, LN Brown, and MG Robinson. (1992). Phytoplankton of Esquimalt Lagoon, British Columbia: comparison with west Vancouver Island coastal and offshore waters. Canadian Technical Report of Hydrography Ocean Sciences 137.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

March 2, 2024 07:05 AM CST

Description

Gathered dry leaves on 2024-02-23 and stored in water.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

March 2, 2024 05:05 PM CST

Description

Gathered dry leaves on 2024-02-23 and stored in water.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mnold1

Date

February 24, 2024 09:10 AM EST

Description

Mag. 400x

  • A pond-side water sample taken on 02/24/2024 using a small sample bottled attached to an extension pole Air temp 42F (no ice at the shore).

Stalked, loricate ciliate in the role of an epizoite; it is attached in the urosome/seta region of a copepod (tail area). The copepod was very active, whipping the Cothurnia sp., and its associated epizootic alga, in sweeping arcs... a testament to the strength of the attachments involved. The last image (replicated in composite image 2) may give a hint of the nature of the pellicle of the zooid; see the horizontal striations at the base of the zooid. I was unable to capture a good video of this critter and not thoughtful enough to photograph the entire copepod with its Cothurnia passenger.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

melmac

Date

January 28, 2024 09:59 AM EST

Description

Found in moss

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ikhom

Date

February 5, 2024 05:08 PM EST

Description

On incubated deer dung. Collected on Feb 5, observed on Feb 29.
Asci bitunicate, 8-spored.
Ascospores measured
*(37.8) 38.1 - 40.6 (41.8) × 7.2 - 8 (8.6) µm
Q = (4.7) 4.9 - 5.5 (5.6) ; N = 10
Me = 39.6 × 7.6 µm ; Qe = 5.2

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Violet-banded Coral Fungus (Ramaria violaceibrunnea)

Observer

sigridjakob

Date

January 15, 2024 12:56 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

May 2013

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mnold1

Date

January 6, 2024 10:36 AM EST

Description

Mag. 400x

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 01/06/2024 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. (The shoreline had a layer of ice about 1/4" thick that needed to be breached in order to accommodate the dipnet. The retentate contained a lot of sediment due to the shallow depth and disturbance caused by the net.) Air temp 35F. (sample has been sitting on a cool, west-facing window ledge since 1/6/24)

Small, smooth Arcella, partial ventral view (50µ wide, 13µ aperture). For the purpose of size comparison, the last composite image includes recently observed Arcella species from the same water sample, all normalized to the same scale.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

alexgraeff

Photos / Sounds

Observer

deckimeters

Date

February 23, 2024 02:37 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-green Volcanito (Megalospora porphyritis)

Observer

samuelbrinker

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-green Volcanito (Megalospora porphyritis)

Observer

troy_mcmullin

Date

November 9, 2017 11:40 AM EST

Description

with pannarin and zeorin

Photos / Sounds

What

Blue-green Volcanito (Megalospora porphyritis)

Observer

samuelbrinker

Description

Thallus pustulate-sorediate; soralia not discrete; PD+ orange.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

April 16, 2022 11:58 AM EDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Observer

emilita

Date

February 2024

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

June 23, 2023 03:05 PM EDT

Description

Perithecia up to 130 um. Asci >64 spored, ascospores 4.2-4.8 x 2-2.5 um.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

janie_c

Date

May 2023

Description

Sur Gyalolechia flavovirescens. Spores simples à doubles, 6 x 4, hyalines à bleu-gris, 60+/asque

Tags

tc

Photos / Sounds

What

Blackthread Lichen (Placynthium nigrum)

Observer

mossgeek

Date

January 28, 2024 02:56 AM PST

Description

only site i seen it, but i didnt survey the area

Photos / Sounds

What

Cartilage Lichen (Ramalina celastri)

Observer

mossgeek

Date

February 13, 2024 05:18 AM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Whisk Broom Lichen (Microcalicium disseminatum)

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

August 2023

Description

On Thuja occidentalis

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ikhom

Date

February 3, 2024 03:01 PM EST

Description

On Malus corticated branch.
Conidia measured
*(35.9) 39 - 50.8 (53.6) × (18.2) 18.23 - 23.5 (23.7) µm
Q = (1.8) 1.9 - 2.56 (2.6) ; N = 12
Me = 45 × 20.7 µm ; Qe = 2.2

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mnold1

Date

January 6, 2024 06:58 PM EST

Description

Mag. 200x

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 01/06/2024 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. (The shoreline had a layer of ice about 1/4" thick that needed to be breached in order to accommodate the dipnet. The retentate contained a lot of sediment due to the shallow depth and disturbance caused by the net.) Air temp 35F.

Large (≥250µ long when near completely extended), colorless euglenoid. Long anterior flagellum. An amazing contortionist (metabolic motion), see 1-6 sequence image 2 (be sure to enlarge).

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

October 2023

Description

Lichenicolous on Phaeophyscia pusilloides.

Spores 2-celled 14-16x4-6um.

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 26, 2024 03:58 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

What

English Puckered Pin (Sphinctrina anglica)

Observer

samuelbrinker

Photos / Sounds

Observer

david_chapados

Date

January 19, 2024 11:45 AM EST

Description

Récolte: 19 janvier 2024
Habitat: sous écorce de feuillu
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
DC0077

Conidiophores 89,4-123,2 x 5,6-6,7um, 6-8 septa, plus clair vers l'apex.

Conidies 15,8-18,5um total, segment 6,3-6,8um, 6-7 septa.

Document consulté:

A Review of the Anamorph Genus Helicoma Author(s): R. D. Goos Source: Mycologia, Vol. 78, No. 5 (Sep. - Oct., 1986), pp. 744-761

Photos / Sounds

What

Hanging Fringe Lichen (Anaptychia crinalis)

Observer

hannadorval

Date

July 1, 2023

Photos / Sounds

What

Lilliput Ink Lichen (Placynthium asperellum)

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

August 2023

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mossgeek

Date

December 30, 2023 08:18 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mossgeek

Date

December 30, 2023 08:18 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mossgeek

Date

December 30, 2023 08:18 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mossgeek

Date

December 30, 2023 08:18 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Waxy Firedot Lichen (Polycauliona bolacina)

Observer

mossgeek

Date

December 30, 2023 08:18 PM PST

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Tree Nymph (Idea stolli)

Observer

ziggypop74

Date

December 15, 2023 07:15 AM +07

Photos / Sounds

What

Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 16, 2024 02:22 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

Date

August 25, 2023 07:45 PM MSK

Photos / Sounds

Observer

roman_romanov

Date

August 19, 2021 12:09 AM +05

Description

A – general appearance of colony clearly folded colonies, together with more abundant straight cylindrical colonies of T. cylindrica, B – groups of cells at periphery of colony, showing typical irregular placement of cell groups and empty space between them crossed with pseudocilia, view from above, C – group of cells from periphery of colony, showing long pseudocilia (arrowhead), lateral view.

Scale: B – 50 μm, C – 20 μm.
Collected by Svetlana A. Nikolaenko and Valeriy A. Glazunov
The image A was taken by Valeriy A. Glazunov.
The voucher is stored in LE (LE AW00042).

Photos / Sounds

Observer

samuelbrinker

Date

October 2023

Photos / Sounds

Observer

janie_c

Date

October 2022

Description

Sur Phaeophyscia rubropulchra sur Acer rubrum

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mnold1

Date

January 6, 2024 10:36 AM EST

Description

Mag. 400x (1), 200x (2)

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 01/06/2024 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. (The shoreline had a layer of ice about 1/4" thick that needed to be breached in order to accommodate the dipnet. The retentate contained a lot of sediment due to the shallow depth and disturbance caused by the net.) Air temp 35F.

Corresponds well with images of Euglena acus found here http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Images/Mastigophora/Euglena/acus/acus2.html. Inventory: 1 flagellum, 1 eyespot, 2 paramylon granules (rod-shaped, starch storage bodies in the anterior section), discoidal chloroplasts with the appearance, in this specimen, of hexagonal panels in the outer membrane (these are most easily seen, in the central to posterior section, in the middle photo of the composite image and in the last image at lower magnification (but better depth of field).

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mnold1

Date

March 29, 2022 06:38 PM EDT

Description

Mag. 400x

  • On 3/29/2022 a water and moss sample were taken from the submerged section of a boulder in the Billings-Avery Brook. Air temp. 38F

Photos / Sounds

Observer

peptolab

Date

January 4, 2024 04:04 PM EST

Description

A Tetrahymena species probably belonging to the T. pyriformis complex from an infusion prepared from moss scraped off of an asphalt driveway in an oak-hickory woodland. Imaged in Nomarski DIC on Olympus BH2S using SPlanapo 40 0.95 objective plus variable phone camera cropping on Samsung Galaxy S9+. The cells measure 50 um in length.

Small to medium ciliate, ovoid to pyriform with anterior end narrowed. Oral aperture small in anterior body third, pyriform in outline with its axis parallel to that of the major body axis. There is an undulating membrane on the right and 3 small inconspicuous membranelles on the buccal cavity leads to the splitting of these membranelles such that 5 or 6 membranelles may be found; similar splitting of the membranelles has been noted in some microstomes (Kaczanowski 1975). Macrostome formation allows the cell to lead a carnivorous way of life. Somatic ciliation complete with a straight pre-oral suture. Some rarely with a caudal cilium. Single terminal contractile vacuole. Macronucleus spherical centrally positioned. Elliott (1973). A recent paper by Nanny and McCoy (1976) has divided organisms previously known as Tetrahymena pyriformis into 14 species (2).

The genus Tetrahymena is the most widely studied member of its phylum. It can produce, store and react with different types of hormones. Tetrahymena cells can recognize both related and hostile cells. They can also switch from commensalistic to pathogenic modes of survival. They are common in freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams. Tetrahymena species used as model organisms in biomedical research are T. thermophila and T. pyriformis.

"Cryptic species of ciliates were first discovered by Sonneborn (1939) for the model organism Paramecium aurelia Ehrenberg, 1838. Cryptic species have since been found in a variety of ciliate genera. The probable wide occurrence of cryptic speciation has been cited as evidence for the underestimation of ciliate species diversity (Foissner et al. 2007). Tetrahymena pyriformis (Ehrenberg, 1830) Lwoff, 1947 is now known to be a species complex (Nanney and McCoy 1976). Species of Tetrahymena were previously assigned to the genera Leucophyrs or Glaucoma until the establishment of the genus Tetrahymena by Furgason (1940). Using mating type tests, Gruchy (1955) first discovered the heterogeneity of T. pyriformis by describing eight ‘varieties’ (later called ‘syngens’). Nanney and McCoy (1976) proposed to separate the constituent species of the T. pyriformis complex based on a combination of morphological and molecular information, mating type determination, electrophoretic mobilities of specific enzymes, and biogeographical distribution. More cryptic species were subsequently discovered and currently the T. pyriformis complex comprises 18 micronucleate and 4 amicronucleate species (Feng et al. 1988; Jerome et al. 1996; Nanney et al. 1980; Nyberg 1981; Simon et al. 1985). Species in the T. pyriformis complex, such as Tetrahymena thermophila, are now used as model organisms for research in a wide range of fields including cell biology, epigenetics, and molecular ecology (Been and Cech 1986; Cervantes et al. 2015; Cherry and Blackburn 1985; Chung and Yao 2012; Gao et al. 2013; Liu et al. 2007; Mochizuki et al. 2002; Nanney 1953)" (1).

  1. Tetrahymena australis (Protozoa, Ciliophora): A Well-Known But “Non-Existing” Taxon– Consideration of Its Identification, Definition and Systematic Position. Mingjian Liu, Xinpeng Fan, Feng Gao, Shan Gao, Yuhe Yu, Alan Warren & Jie Huang. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 2016, 63, 760–770
  2. Nanney, D. L. & McCoy, J. W. 1976. Characterization of the species of the Tetrahymena pyriformis complex. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 95:664–682.

Photos / Sounds

What

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 10, 2024 12:24 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

What

Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)

Observer

ziggypop74

Date

December 2023

Photos / Sounds

Observer

mnold1

Date

January 6, 2024 03:32 PM EST

Description

Mag. 400x (1), 200x (2,3)

  • A pond-side water sample (retentate) was taken on 01/06/2024 using a 10µ dip net to enrich for microorganisms. (The shoreline had a layer of ice about 1/4" thick that needed to be breached in order to accommodate the dipnet. The retentate contained a lot of sediment due to the shallow depth and disturbance caused by the net.) Air temp 35F.

A euglenid with a single anterior flagellum, hyaline tail section, and a deeply ribbed pellicle (scales!, see comments) reminiscent of euglenoids Lepocinclis fusca and Phacus monilatus. Metabolic movement was not observed. Link to video https://youtu.be/GlnYtTwJ9YI.

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 6, 2024 01:22 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

Date

June 24, 2023 09:23 AM +05

Description

A water sample was taken from the bank of the Ufa River. The sample was stored at room temperature and observed 6 days after collection.

Video: https://youtu.be/aPkuu_4Q-jE

Photos / Sounds

What

Giant Millipedes (Genus Doratogonus)

Observer

upupa-epops

Date

January 28, 2023 07:35 AM EAT

Photos / Sounds

What

Cupped Soot Lichen (Acolium inquinans)

Observer

toby_spribille

Date

January 2, 2024 12:18 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

December 30, 2023 02:57 PM CST

Description

Water sample taken from the edge of a freshwater playa on 2023-12-07 using a turkey baster.

About 360 microns long.

Photos / Sounds

Observer

crseaquist

Date

January 1, 2024 03:01 PM CST

Description

Water sample taken from the edge of a freshwater playa on 2023-12-07 using a turkey baster.

From 1st image to last was about 25 minutes. Unfortunately I lost them when I tried to rehydrate the slide, so I never saw them actually separate.

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 2024

Photos / Sounds

What

Fringed Wrinkle Lichen (Tuckermanopsis americana)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 1, 2024 01:00 PM MST

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)

Observer

emilita

Date

January 2024

Photos / Sounds

Observer

shanesmicroscope

Date

December 2023

Photos / Sounds

What

Four-eyed Fish (Genus Anableps)

Observer

diliangeorgiev

Date

August 5, 2023 02:55 PM -03

Photos / Sounds

Observer

sarahhubert

Date

December 29, 2023 10:27 AM CST

Photos / Sounds

What

Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)

Observer

burke_korol

Date

December 27, 2023 11:13 AM AST

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ikhom

Date

December 26, 2023 06:42 PM EST

Description

On broken, corticated hardwood (Robinia pseudoacacia) branch clusters of pyrenomycetes fungi. Actually on top of old immersed pyrenomycetes fungi. Ascoma perithecia, orange, covered with whitish hairs.
Asci 8-spored.
Ascospores with 3-septa, fusiform, hyaline, probably verrucose, measured
*(21) 24.1 - 29.1 (31.3) × (5.9) 6.1 - 6.8 (7.5) µm
Q = (3.2) 3.7 - 4.7 (5.1) ; N = 18
Me = 27 × 6.4 µm ; Qe = 4.3

Photos / Sounds

What

Red-bearded Bee-Eater (Nyctyornis amictus)

Observer

ziggypop74

Date

November 30, 2023 02:55 PM +07

Photos / Sounds

Observer

peptolab

Date

December 23, 2023 10:38 AM EST

Description

Psammomitra retractilis (Claparède & Lachmann, 1858) Borror, 1972 (syn Psammomitra brevicauda KAHL, 1933) from the intertidal benthos of marine estuary Acabonac harbor at Louse Point launching ramp. The cell measures 120 um in length and is contractile. There are 5 long frontal membranelles. Imaged in Nomarski DIC on Olympus BH2S using SPLANAPO 40 0.95 objective plus variable phone camera cropping on Samsung Galaxy S9+.

The systematics have been confused and convoluted and this confusion is extensively reviewed by Berger (1). Yi et al (2) showed " by morphological and SSrRNA gene data that Psammomitra branched with Holosticha at a rather deep level, and Psammomitra should be arranged in an isolated position near the Holostichidae but represent a taxon within the order Urostylida (sensu Berger, 2006) at the rank of family, i.e. Psammomitridae Jankowski, 1979 stat. nov " (2`). There has also been confusion between the two species described by Kahl under the older genus name Micrometra- M. brevicauda and M. retractilis (4). Song and Warren feel that Psammometra brevicauda is synonymous with P. retractilis, which they described at the time as Uroleptus retractilis" (1,3).

"Psammomitra retractilis. This taxon is the sole species of the genus and has been frequently found in marine habitats (for a review, see Berger, 2006). It has an urostylid midventral complex composed of cirral pairs only, and a characteristic long tail (Song & Warren, 1996). Its systematic position is subject to a long and ongoing dispute (for a review, see Berger, 2006). Song & Warren (1996) described this species in detail and suggested its assignment to the urostylids based on its cirral pattern, which is composed of a few midventral pairs, two frontoterminal cirri, and some transverse cirri. In Berger’s (2006) review, Psammomitra was classified as a member of Holostichidae. Berger (2006) also stated that this genus is possibly an urostylid instead of a dorsomarginalian taxon because of the absence of dorsomarginal kineties, although he suspected that P. retractilis might be an oxytrichid, based on some morphological features, e.g. it forms one, two, or three additional cirral anlagen, a process which is likely to occur several times independently in 18-cirri oxytrichids " (1,2).

"SUBCLASS STICHOTRICHIA ORDER UROSTYLIDA PSAMMOMITRIDAE STAT. NOV. Improved diagnosis:Urostylida possessing extremely contractile, elongated body that consists of three parts: head, trunk, and slender tail; midventral complex composed of midventral pairs only and restricted to about anterior 1/3 of ventral surface; frontal, frontoterminal, and transverse cirri present; one left and one right marginal row, which commence near proximal end of adoral zone and extend to near rear body end. Only one known genus " (3).

"Psammomitra (= Micromitra) brevicauda is differentiated from U. retractilis only by the possession of four longer apical membranelles and in having significantly shorter caudal cirri and dorsal bristles. However, we have observed individuals among the population of U. retractilis from Qingdao with 3-5 longer apical membranelles and with short caudal cirri and dorsal bristles. Therefore, it is likely that P. brevicauda is synonymous with U. retractilis" (3).

From Kahl 1933: "Genus Micromitra KAHL, 1933 (for Mitra QUENNERSTEDT, 1867, nec. LAMARCK, 1799) According to our own recent observations, with its isolated ventral cirri, this genus belongs in the genus Oxytricha and forms another subgenus, which now includes two species:
Micromitra retractilis CLAPAREDE and LACHMANN 1858 Size160 um. When stretched, the tail becomes thread-like and thin longer than the rest of the body, it shows bone-like myoneme strips. There are 5-6 frontal membranelles. Drsb. 10 um high.

Micromitra brevicauda KAHL, 1933 Size 80-110 um Tail only half as long as the rest of the body. Drsb. 5 um high; 4 frontal membranelles. Sand bottom near the Heligoland dune" (4).

  1. Berger H. 2006. Monograph of the Urostyloidea (Ciliophora, Hypotricha). Monographiae Biologicae 85: 1–1304. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Monograph_of_the_Urostyloidea_Ciliophora/yl7oZtQfG8oC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=psammomitra+brevicauda&pg=PA223&printsec=frontcover
  2. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that Psammomitra (Ciliophora, Urostylida) should represent an urostylid family, based on small subunit rRNA and alpha-tubulin gene sequence information. ZHENZHEN YI, WEIBO SONG, THORSTEN STOECK, KHALED A. S. AL-RASHEID, ABDULAZIZ A. AL-KHEDHAIRY, JUN GONG, HONGWEI MA and ZIGUI CHEN. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157, 227–236
  3. A Redescription of the Marine Ciliates Uroleptus retractilis (Claparède and Lachmann, 1858) comb. n. and Epiclintes ambiguus (Müller, 1786) Biitschli, 1889 (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida) Weibo SONG and Alan WARREN. Acta Protozoologica (1996) 35: 227 - 234
  4. Kahl A. 1935. Urtiere oder Protozoa. I: Wimpertiere oder Ciliata (Infusoria), 4. Peritricha und Chonotricha. Die Tier welt Deutschlands 30: pp 838, 842.

Photos / Sounds

What

Large Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis magnirostris)

Observer

ziggypop74

Date

December 19, 2023 10:00 AM +07

Photos / Sounds

Date

July 4, 2023 08:48 AM MSK

Description

A predatory ciliate of the family Colpodidae that feeds on the ciliates Colpoda sp.

A sample was taken from the moss on the tree bark. The sample was stored at room temperature and observed one day after collection.

Video: https://youtu.be/S5B7_vhAbJQ

Photos / Sounds

Date

August 8, 2023 11:00 AM MSK

Description

After recovering from its dehydrated state, this rotifer crawled for only a dozen minutes. It never showed the corona. And, having found nothing interesting for itself, it fell back into the contracted state.

The sample is taken from moss brought from the forest. The moss was stored at room temperature for three days before the observation.

Video: https://youtu.be/JX7lLJdmbhk

Photos / Sounds

Observer

ikhom

Date

December 18, 2023 02:42 PM EST

Description

Tiny dark cup fungi on hardwood, probably Red Maple.
Apothecia blackish, sessile.
Asci 8-spored, IKI-, with thickened apex.
Ascospores hyaline with up to 7-septa.
Paraphyses filiform, green.

Associated: Arachnopeziza trabinelloides, Proliferodiscus pulveraceus, Hyaloscypha sp., Durella connivens.